Tyler Hart, Contributor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
KINNIKINNICK — From the time Tuesday’s opening tip took place until the final horn of the fourth quarter, Zane Trace kept its foot on the gas pedal.
CREDIT: Derrick Webb/SOSA
The Pioneers (8-1) continued to stay on course in non-league action, using its usual suspects to win a 52-32 decision over visiting Logan Elm.
The benchmark of team’s latest victory? In a word, defense.
Zane Trace started rolling early in all areas of the game but especially hung their hats on the defensive end, eliminating the Braves’ clean looks and boxing out for rebounds underneath the bucket.
That was the recipe used for a 16-0 start, one that spanned throughout the entirety of the first quarter.
“I have coached all these years and we have had three quarters this year where we held the other team scoreless,” Zane Trace coach Gary Kellough said. “It’s unusual but I like this group. We are really starting to find our role as to how we want to play defense and the things we are trying to do with our defense.”
ZT’s duo of Nalin Robinson and Kyle Stonerock were a vital force throughout the opening frame and took advantage of their opportunities under the rim. Robinson got the night started with the first score at the 6:52 mark and followed it up with another score on the next possession.
After Stonerock scored around the 3:41 mark in the first quarter, the Pioneers began to space the floor, extending the range for their guards. Landon Robinson sunk a 3 from the arc and later knocked down another 3 before the buzzer, putting the Pioneers ahead 16-0.
“That’s our mindset every game. We work inside-out and the best way to get the inside to work is expanding the floor,” Kellough said. “Our young guards are getting better every game about handling the ball and making the right decision. We have to stretch the floor so there’s nobody packing around our big guys.”
Nalin Robinson started the scoring in the second, knocking down one of two freebies from the charity stripe, before a steal led to a two-handed jam from Xzander Ream — who was just getting started.
Logan Elm (3-6) finally got on the board when Ne’Miah Waugh ended the Pioneers’ game-opening 19-0 run with a layup through contact.
Waugh has been the main source of scoring for the Braves with seniors Tanner Holbert and Braylen Baker on the bench with injuries. He single-handedly helped LE show signs of life by scoring 11 of the team’s 14 points in the quarter.
Ream canned a 3 for his second score of the night, sparking another two scores from himself before heading into the break with Zane Trace holding a commanding 32-14 advantage.
“Logan Elm is a tough team to play against,” Kellough said. “No matter what, [Logan Elm] coach [Doug] Stiverson will have a well-disciplined group that can run an offense that will execute and run a tough defense.”
To begin the second half, Waugh and the Braves continued to show signs of a fight. Offensively, they found much better looks while Waugh provided six more points in the quarter.
LE’s Carson Summers and Gavin Griffey got into the mix by knocking down a layup and a jumper between the two. Those two buckets helped the Braves win the third quarter scoring margin by a 9-5 tally, cutting the lead to 37-23 heading into the fourth.
“Offensively, we are still having that one quarter when we shut down,” Kellough said. “The last four games, we get out to a big lead, then kind of let up and start doing other things that didn’t get us to that lead. We have to work hard on closing quarters, and games, especially against the better teams coming up.”
Zane Trace’s Carter Langley checked back into the game early in the fourth and turned in his best quarter of the night. His contributions helped keep Zane Trace in command while it matched LE’s offensive pace.
Waugh added a pair of scores for Logan Elm before the Pioneers began to widen the margin.
Ream added his second 3-pointer to end his night, before Robinson and company took it from there, sealing the team’s eighth win of the year.
Both Ream and Robinson ended the evening with 16 points. Robinson added a season-high 19 rebounds to his totals alongside a pair of assists. Langley finished with eight points, six of which came in the fourth.
Waugh led the Braves with 20 points while Arnett added five.
Zane Trace is back in action on Friday at Southeastern while Logan Elm attempts to bounce back on Saturday at Amanda-Clearcreek.
“The competition will just get tougher and tougher,” Kellough said. “We don’t worry about winning the league. Our preparation right now is solely on the tournament. That’s the mindset for us. We have to get better every game and knock out that one quarter where we get lackadaisical in. If we can handle all of that, then I think we are heading in the right direction.”
BOX SCORE
Logan Elm: 0-14-9-9 — 52
Zane Trace: 16-16-5-15 — 32
Logan Elm: 13-41 FG, 5-7 FT, 1-9 3pt., 21 rebounds (Griffey 5, Tomlinson 5), 11 turnovers, 3 assists (McFadden 4). Scoring: Waugh 20, Arnett 5, Sabine 2, Griffey 2, Tomlinson 2, Summers 1.
Zane Trace: 23-48 FG, 2-6 FT, 4-11 3pt., 32 rebounds (N. Robinson 19), 10 turnovers, 6 assists (B. Jarrell 2, L. Jarrell 2, N. Robinson 2). Scoring: Ream 16, N. Robinson 16, Langley 8, L. Robinson 6, Stonerock 4, McCullough 2.
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